Railway safety device.



W. J. MELVIN & H. J. BURBRIDGE.

RAILWAY SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1914.

l 138,883fi Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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W. J. MELVIN & H. l. BURBRIDGE.

RAILWAY SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILEDv NOV. 25. 1914.

Patented May11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 1 l j u I 1 I.

Fe /FR YJ' 3225/12/0 LW/Td" THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. c.

lnvenlor s Attorneys srs ATE @FFTQE.

WILFRED J. MELVIN AND HARRY J. BURBRIDGE, or BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

RAILWAY SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

5 Application filed November 25, 1914. Serial No. 874,062.

Improvements in Railway Safety Devices;

andwe do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. V

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to safety devices for railways.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation, and use of the inven tion, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application.

Throughout the several figures of the' drawingslike reference characters designate the same parts.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through thecenter of one of the valves; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary underneath view of a car with the device applied;

.Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the device used to stop an approaching train; -Fig. 4c is a side view of a valve provided with a special engaging bail, and adapted to be used with the device shown in Fig. 3; and Fig.5 is a front view of the same. a

The main objects of the invention are, to

produce a compact, strong, durable, and eifi cient device to be used in connection with a railway car, which will stop the train, if a journal or truck breaks or if the car leaves the track. This device is also adapted to be used as a signaling device, in case of a wreck or the like, to stop approaching trains.

Referring to the drawings in detail, lindicates the cylindrical valve casing, the upper end of which is closed by a convex top 2 secured in position by a union nut 3, so as to make an air tight closure. Top 2 is provided, at its center, with an externally screw threaded nipple 4 the inner endof which is beveled to form a seat for the valve 5. Valve '5 is provided with an integral stem 6 about which is mounted a coil spring 7 seated in a cylindrical recess in the upper end of the stem 8 integral with the piston 9. The lower able brackets 15 into casing 1. .VVhen the end of valve stem 6 is operated in a closely fitting bore in the stem 8, which, in conjunction withthe spider 6 integral with the upper face'of the valve and snugly fitting the lnterior of nipple 4:, insures accuracy of operation.

The lower part of stem 8 of piston 9 is hollow and communicates with the interior of casing 1 by means of two diametrically opposite ports 10. A rubber plug 11 is mounted in a suitable opening through the bottom of casing 1, at the center thereof. The head 12 of this plug is flexible and extends somewhat beyond the stem 8 of the piston, so as to be gripped between the lower face of the piston and the inner face of the bottom of the casing 1, and thus secured in position. The plug 11 is provided, at its center, with a tightly secured pin 18, to the outer end of which is secured a chain adapt ed to be secured to one corner of one of the car trucks 147.

Four valves are provided for each truck, one for each corner. These valves are secured to the underneath of the car by suitand are connected to the main air line pipe 16 by means of Ts 17, which are connected to the nipples 4: of casings 1.

When a car is not in use, the pressure of against the under face of cient to keep the valve seated so as to prevent the entry of dust and foreign matter 7 car is coupled up ina train, and casing 1 is connected to the air pressure system, the air pressure unseats valve 5 and the air enters casing land the lowerhollow part of stem 8. The air pressure on the upper face of piston 9 presses it firmlv on to the edge of plug 11 so as to hold it se curely. in position. If a truck or a journal breaks, or a car leaves the track, at least one corner of the truck will be greatly displaced and will, by means of pins 13 and the chains "connected thereto, pull plug 11 from one of the casings 1.- This permits the escape of the air from the brake system, and the brakes are at once set, thus stopping the train and preventing possible serious damage. The plug thus removed may be replaced by removing the top 2 of casing l, and the elements contained by the casings, after which the elements are replaced and the top of the casing again secured in position.

In order to insure proper and easy operation of piston 9, a small bore 18 is provided through one side of easing 1, near the bottom thereof, at a point below the lowest position of the piston.

As will be noted from Fig. 1, the piston 9 is provided, in its upper face, with a groove extending from the stem 8 almost to the edge of the piston. This groove is intended to receive all dust, or other foreign matter, which may enter casing 1, so as to prevent its collecting on the inner face of the casing or in any way interfering with the operation of the device.

In order that a train may be stopped when approaching a wreck, washout, or the like, a valve is secured to the pilot of the engine, at the center of the back thereof, and connected to the train line pipe as before, as in Fig. 3. In this case, the plug 11 is secured to a rod 9 slidable through a collar 20 carried by a bracket 21 detachably secured to the end of casing 1. This bracket can be attached by means of friction pins fitting tightly into suitable bores in the casing, as shown, or by having the lower part of the bracket in the formof a bow spring with its ends fitting into suitable clips secured to the casing, or by any other suitable means.

In the lower end of rod 19, an elliptical.

engaging bail 19 is loosely and detachably secured. This bail is transverse of the engine and is held in this position by two tension springs 22, the inner ends of which are secured to the opposite sides of the bail and their outer ends to the lower ends of the arms 23 of bracket 21. This bail is adapted to be engaged by a hook 24 carried by a plate 25 which is adapted to be secured to a tie 26, at the center thereof. In case of a wreck, or the like, the signal man can go back a suitable distance along the track and secure the plate 25 in position. If a train approaches, hook 24: will engage bail 19 and remove plug 11 from the casing. This will set the brakes, so as to stop the train, and thus givenotice of danger ahead.

It is thought that the construction, operation, and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description.

. Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and disposition of the several parts of the invention without in any way departing from the field and scope of the same, and it is meant to include allsuch within this application wherein only a pres ferred form has been disclosed. I

Having thus fully described our invention, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described;

a casing provided with an opening in its bottom and having, at its top, a nipple adapted to be connected to a source of supply "of fluid pressure; a removable plug adapted to fit in the said opening and make an air tight closure; means for securing the plug in operative position; and means for closing the inner end of the said nipple when the device is not in use.

2. Ina device of the character described; acasing having a centrally located opening in its bottom and provided with a nipple at the center of its top adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fluid pressure; a plug having a flexible head adapted tonormally close the said opening in the bottom of the casing; a piston adapted to press upon the upper face of the head of the said plug, at the edge thereof, so as to secure it in position; means for closing the inner end of the said nipple, when the device is not in use; and means for attaching the plug to means adapted .to effect its removal in case of accident.

3. In a device of the character described; a casing having a centrally located opening in. its bottom and provided with a nipple at the center of its top adapted to be connected to a source of supply of fluid pressure and having itsinner end beveled to form a valve seat, the said casing being further provided with a lateral portnear its bottom; a plug having a flexible head adapted to normally close the said opening in the bottom of the casing; a piston mounted in the casing provided with an integral stem having a hollow lower portion communicating with the interior of the casing and a cylindrical recess in its upper end, and a cylindrical bore, the said piston being adapted to normally press upon the upper face of the head of the said plug, near'the edge thereof, so as to secure it in position; a valve adapted to be seated in the inner end of the said nipple so as to close it, and provided with an integral stem the inner end of which is operative in the bore in the said stem of the piston; a coil spring mounted about the said valve stem and seated in the recess in the upper end of the said piston'stem, and adapted to hold the said valve seated when the device is not in .use, and to permit unseating thereof when the device is in use; and means for attaching the said plug to means adapted to effect its removal in'case of the breaking of a truck or journal or the like.

4. In combination; a railway train air pipeline; a truck; a casing provided with a central opening in its bottom and a centrally located nipple on its top, and a lateral port near its bottom; connections between the said air pipe line and the said nipple; a plug adapted to normally close the said opening in the bottom of the casing and provided with a flexible head; a piston operative in the said casing and adapted to normally press on the inner face of the head In witness whereof .we have hereunto set of the said plug, near the edge thereof, so as our hands in the presence of two witnesses. 10 to secure it in position; means for closing WILFRED J. MELVIN. the inner end of the sald nipple when 1t 1s not connected to an air pipe line, and for HARRY BURBRIDGE' permitting the opening thereof when it is Witnesses: so connected; and means for connecting the T. BRIAN MULLIERS, said plug to one corner of the said truck. L. D. SKENAULT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

